pentarchy

[ pen-tahr-kee ]
/ ˈpɛn tɑr ki /

noun, plural pen·tar·chies.

a government by five persons.
a governing body of five persons.
a federation of five nations, each under its own government or ruler.

Origin of pentarchy

From the Greek word pentarchía, dating back to 1580–90. See pent(a)-, -archy

OTHER WORDS FROM pentarchy

pen·tarch, noun pen·tar·chi·cal, adjective

British Dictionary definitions for pentarch

pentarchy
/ (ˈpɛntɑːkɪ) /

noun plural -chies

government by five rulers
a ruling body of five
a union or association of five kingdoms, provinces, etc, each under its own ruler
a country ruled by a body of five

Derived forms of pentarchy

pentarchical, adjective